You are right in how wasteful it is, especially since it turned out a lot of those satellites don't even make it to 4 years.

However there is zero risk of space trash with Starlink. They orbit so low, it's basically within the atmosphere still. They need to constantly boost themselves, otherwise they fall down and burn up. So these satellites are coming down within years all on their own, even without any controlled disposal.

It's insanely wasteful, but it keeps SpaceX in business launching every week, which is kind of the point. But at least there isn't a Kessler syndrome waiting to happen.

I'm checking this out!

Also every African despotic regime that has has ever existed.

Doesnt make it a bad idea tho

Never gonna happen under republicans... or dems as they are sell outs too.

don't threaten me with a good time!

Reverse accelerating space ship. I like the idea!

why stop there?

do it to meta, twitter, amazon, etc

We've seen China give companies to the state, but have there been any large examples of giving companies to the workers?

have a government run space agency

a private company shows up

does everything better at a fraction of the cost and actually innovates

commies on lemmy: We Should Immediately Nationalize SpaceX and Starlink

You could always just fund the space agency you already have, instead of funneling money to a foreign billionaire.

Even though it’s not a space trash problem, it is a regular upper atmosphere polluter of aluminum oxide ash . We don’t yet know the long term consequences.

Stopping exploitation by Shell, BP & Friends isn't exactly what made those regimes despotic

A private company shows up that gets federal funding while the space agency gets funding consistently cut while having to support multiple, multi-year, billion dollar projects.

A private company whose survival is 100% reliant on government money.

Capitalists on Lemmy: private company is better just because it's private

I think if you consider the cost to manufacture then bury a fibre optic cable for everyone who lives 10km from a town centre, I think it's still a net positive. It's not great for sure, but amortised over a huge population it's probably the best option we have at this time.

No this the one time I’m with the commies. Nationalize that shit. Like you said it’s all taxpayer money anyway. A little bit of Wall Street speculation, but who gives a fuck about those people

We just need to allow them to keep the money. They like money. Give them 10% as a finders fee and the Yes vote will be unanimous

Based? Then they can become regulated.

Ya like in Russia! When all the poor got tricked out of their shares and a billionaire class was made which continued to strangle the poor for 30 years